Good morning! Here are three invitations for middlers for the last Tuesday in July!
Sensory Invitation: Wash muddy cars, balls, etc. in a container with soapy water. You can even make a shower for your toys by cutting holes in the bottom of a cup and pouring water into it.
Intent: We use sensory activities for the middlers to explore their five senses. This activity will allow for the middlers to enjoy multiple sensory experiences such as touch, hearing, and sight.
Building Invitation: Block building with additional loose parts
Building with blocks is an important learning language for young children. It also allows them to explore connecting and disconnecting schema, create imaginary worlds, and tinker with architecture and design. After so many weeks at home, it might be time to add something new to your children’s block collection. You can offer a variety of things to inspire young builders like cotton balls, small dry sticks, shells or empty cardboard boxes. Small LED candles are also a beautiful addition. You can also invite your child to create block people to live in their creations. Have them draw people (or animals or monsters or trees) on paperboard or thick paper, cut them out, and tape them to small blocks so they stand up. You can also use binder clips to support block people if you have those. To make them more sturdy, cover them on both sides with clear packing tape before attaching to the blocks.
Large Motor/Outdoor Invitation: Neighborhood Animal Yoga
Begin this invitation by asking your child what kinds of animals live in your neighborhood. Then see what yoga poses they know, or can create so their bodies look/feel like those animals. In our neighborhood in Durham we see dogs, cats, birds, snakes, spiders, worms, raccoons, and occasionally deer or a fox. Your child might also want to be a balancing tree, a flower unfurling, or a unicorn! You can take photos or have your child draw their own yoga cards to use over and over again.
This invitation connects children to their environment using their imaginations. It also builds balance, flexibility and strength.
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